emmens



(No Model.)

S. H. EMMENS.

PROJEGTILB FOR SMOOTH BORE GUNS.

STEPHEN HENRY Emma/vs I J 8313 My abkom1 N. PETERS. Pholn-Lilhogmphen Washmgtan, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

STEPHEN H. EMMEN S, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PROJECTILE FOR SMOOTH-BORE GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,648, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed July 3, 1388. Serial No. 278,893. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN HENRY EM- MENS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of London, in England, temporarily residing at Harrison, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Projectiles for Smooth-Bore Artillery, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are, first, to adapt elongated projectiles to be efficiently employed in smooth bore artillery, wit-h charges in the projectiles of-Emmensite or other high explosive; and, secondly, to augment the charge-space, as compared with the diameter of the projectile, beyond the usual ratio.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations of parts, as hereinafterset forth and claimed.

A sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof. Figure 1 of these drawings represents an axial longitudinal section of an explosive projectile illustrating this invention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent crosssections at 2 2 and at 3 3, Fig. 1,1espectively. Fig. 4: represents a perspective view of the combined strut and charge-holder detached. Fig. 5 represents a cross-section like Fig. 3 of a modified projectile, and Fig. 6 represents a small-scale elevation of the projectileproper in flight.

Like letters .of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The body A A of the hollow projectile containing the charge-chamber is of cylindrical shape and somewhat smaller than the bore of the gun,to avoid friction against the walls of the bore, back to the rear end of the chargeehamber, where a narrow base portion 5, of larger diameter, with a concentric boss 00, of

. smaller diameter, behind it, unites the holscrews a Z), which are screwed, respectively, into the base of the bodyAand into the head D of the projectile. The strut O is, moreover, furnished with projecting circular webs E for the purpose of protecting the thin walls of the charge-chamber again st b ucklin g and vibration, and the head D is provided with a deep lip c, fitting closely over the top of the body A and forming at once a supplemental support for the latter and the front guide of the projectile, the same being fitted to the bore of the gun.

Immediately behind the base portion 2 of the body A, and surrounding said boss 00, I locate a gas-check F of ordinary construction, and at the rear of the tail B there is an, elastic sabot, which may be of any approved construction. I prefer, however, to make the latter as shown in Fig. luamely, with two paraffined wooden wads G, separated by a ring H and a central pad I of greased asbestus. A packing of this latter material or some equivalent substance as paraffine wax-is also placed in the space J, between the lowermost web Eof the strut and the rear end of the charge-chamber.

The main charge of explosive is packed in annular sections K, between the webs E, before'the strut C is inserted.

\Vithin the axial bore of the strut an initial bursting-charge L, of Emmensite or other high explosive, is confined by a perforated wad w, and in front of the latter a suitable firing device is arranged within the same b0reas, for example, a time-fuse fin connection with a suitable detonator (Z.

By means of the rigidly-projecting'tail B, having a ribbed section and an open rear end, as aforesaid, in combination withasabot or wad interposed between the same and the propelling-charge, the center of gravity of the projectile is located well forward, the tendency of long projectiles to overturn is effectively counteracted, and wabbling or oscillating is prevented without complication of parts. The propelling-pressure acts on the sabot or wad and the projectile is pushed forth by the tail.

By the combination, with a suitable elastic sabot, of the hollow cylindrical body A, having a base portion which fits the bore of the gun behind the charge-chamber, a chargechamber portion of reduced diameter, and an open front end, together with the head D, having a rearwardly-proj ectinglip, which fit-s the bore of the gun and a charge-holder screwed down upon a suitable packing within the charge-chamber, the use of Emmensite and other suitable high explosives in such projectiles is rendered quite safe; and by the combined strut and charge-holder O, with its axial-screw ends a b and circular Webs E, in combination with the thin-walled body A, having an open front end, and the head D, screwed upon the front end of said strut and charge-holder, and having the deep rearwardly-projecting lip c to overlap the said ,body end, the possible capacity of a projectile of given weight is materially increased as compared with a previous constructions known to me. i

Having thus described my said improvement in projectiles for smooth-bore artillery, I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specification 7 1. In combination with an elastic sabot, a projectile having a hollow cylindrical body constructed with a base portion which fits the bore of the gun behind the charge-chamber, a charge-chamber portion of reduced diameter and an open front end, a head having a rearwardly-projecting lip which fits the bore of the gun, and a charge-holder screwed down upon a suitable packing within the charge-chamber, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. A combined strut and charge-holder having axial screw ends and circular webs, in combination with a thin-walled body having an open front end, and a head screwed upon the front end of said strut and charge-holder and having a deep rearWardly-projecting lip, which overlaps said front end, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

STEPHEN H. EMMENS.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL B. HAMBURG, NEWTON W. EMMENs. 

